Multi-line appearance telephony via a computer network

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are provided for creating traditional multi-line appearance telecommunications capabilities in a computer network for communications received from a switched circuit network. The system and method create key system and attendant/attendee relationships between the respective terminal end-points of the computer network. In addition, multiple line appearances may be supported simultaneously at a single terminal end-point.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/177,700, filed Oct. 23, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,116,656, titled“MULTI-LINE APPEARANCE TELEPHONY VIA A COMPUTER NETWORK,” which isrelated to the following applications, all of which were filedconcurrently therewith and assigned to the assignee of the rights in thepresent application: Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/105,326 ofGardell et al. entitled “A HIGH SPEED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OPERATINGOVER A COMPUTER NETWORK”; Ser. No. 09/177,712 of Gardell et al. entitled“MULTI-LINE TELEPHONY VIA NETWORK GATEWAYS”, now U.S. Pat. No.6,707,797; Ser. No. 09/178,130 of Gardell et al. entitled “NETWORKPRESENCE FOR A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OPERATING OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK”,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,304; Ser. No. 09/178,271 of Gardell et al.entitled “SPEAKER IDENTIFIER FOR MULTI-PARTY CONFERENCE”, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,457,043; Ser. No. 09/178,178 of Gardell et al. entitled “SYSTEMPROVIDING INTEGRATED SERVICES OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK”, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,298,062; and Ser. No. 09/177,415 of Gardell et al. entitled“REAL-TIME VOICEMAIL MONITORING AND CALL CONTROL”, now U.S. Pat. No.6,031,896.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field oftelecommunications. More specifically, the invention is directed to amethod and apparatus for providing various multi-line appearancecapabilities in a communications system provided over a computernetwork, such as an H.323-based communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

H.323 is an International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standard thatprovides guidelines for terminals and equipment that provide multimediacommunications services over computer networks such as packet basednetworks (PBNs). H.323 terminals and equipment may carry real-timeaudio, video and/or data.

The packet based network over which H.323 terminals communicate may be apoint-to-point connection, a single network segment, or an inter-networkhaving multiple segments with complex topologies, such as local areanetworks (LANs), Intra-Networks, and Inter-Networks, including theInternet.

H.323 terminals may be used in point-to-point, multi-point, or broadcast(as described in the ITU H.332's standard) configurations. They mayinterwork with other equipment described in standards, such as H.310terminals on B-ISDN, H.320 terminals on N-ISDN, H.321 terminals onB-ISDN, H.322 terminals on Guaranteed Quality of Service LANs, H.324terminals on switched telephone and wireless networks, V.70 terminals ontelephone networks, and voice terminals on telephone networks or ISDNthrough the use of gateways. H.323 terminals may be integrated intopersonal computers or implemented in stand-alone devices such as videotelephones.

Computer networks which are capable of transmitting data or informationbetween locations, such as the above-mentioned Internet, have been usedto transmit audio information between computers. At the transmittingcomputer, a person's voice may be digitized using a conventional analogto digital (A/D) converter and transmitted to the receiving locationwhere it is passed through a conventional digital to analog (D/A)converter and presented as audio. This type of audio connectivity issomewhat similar to flat rate telephony, in that audio information maybe transmitted from one location to another by way of a high bandwidth,flat rate communications medium. However, this type of computertelephony system suffers from several major disadvantages. First, thesystem is limited to only those customers who have access to theInternet and who are using compatible end-point software. In addition,while Internet access has now widely proliferated, it has not reachedthe near universal accessibility of traditional telephone service overpublic switched telephone networks (PSTN) and the like. Thus, such acomputer telephony system is totally useless if a user on the Internetdesires to communicate with someone who does not have access to theInternet.

On the other hand, an H.323-based communications system allows acomputer network, such as the Internet, to interact with a conventionaltelephone network, such as a PSTN, general switched telephone network(GSTN), integrated services digital network (ISDN), or other switchedcircuit network (SCN), all of which are referred to generally herein asswitched circuit networks. Such a system provides the appropriatetranslation between switched circuit network and packet based networkdata formats and between different communication procedures, in order toallow a user on one system (such as the PSTN) to communicate with a useron an otherwise incompatible system (such as a packet based network).

While the H.323-based communications system is quite effective atsupporting communication between two otherwise incompatible networks,current use of that system has been somewhat limited. The systemsupports communication between two parties and also provides forconferencing of multiple parties in a single call. However, H.323-basedsystems do not presently address the provision of more traditionalmulti-line phone behavior offered in PSTN and other more conventionaltelecommunications networks. This is a significant drawback, especiallyfor those who are already reluctant to convert from conventionaltelecommunications networks to an H.323-based system for theirtelecommunications needs.

Accordingly, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artthat there continues to be a need for a communications system thatallows for communication between a packet based network and aconventional switched circuit network, while simultaneously providingvarious multi-line appearance capabilities offered on switched circuitnetworks. The present invention addresses these needs and others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a novel means are provided forestablishing various forms of multi-line appearance capabilities on acomputer network. The invention provides several different multi-lineappearance variations, including the capability of presenting multipleactive lines to a user at a terminal end-point, the presentation of “keysystem” behavior, and the presentation of “attendant/attendee” behavior,as are offered in conventional switched circuit networks. The presentinvention is incorporated in a network-based system to supportcommunication with conventional switched circuit networks. Thenetwork-based system includes a gateway that provides for communicationbetween two dissimilar networks, a signal routing agent that controlsoperations and transmits signals, and one or more terminal end-points toreceive the above-mentioned multi-line appearances.

Thus, the system of the present invention in one illustrative embodimentincludes: a gateway in communication with a switched circuit network,which gateway is operative to translate switched circuitnetwork-compatible signals into computer network-compatible signals. Asignal routing agent is in communication with the gateway and with oneor more terminal end-points, and is operative to receive plural incomingcalls from the gateway addressed to a selected one of the terminals. Thesignal routing agent is also programmed to simultaneously transmitplural line appearance signals to the selected terminal. The terminalincludes a user interface configured to simultaneously display multipleline appearance messages received from the signal routing agent.

In another illustrative embodiment, the system of the present inventioncomprises: a signal routing agent; a gateway adapted to receive incomingcalls, and at least one gatekeeper. The gateway is operative totranslate the incoming calls into computer network-compatible signals.The at least one gatekeeper is in communication with the gateway and isresponsive to receipt of the incoming call to control the gateway totransmit the computer network-compatible signals to the signal routingagent. The signal routing agent is responsive to receipt of the computernetwork-compatible signals so as to determine the correspondingterminals assigned to receive the signals and to transmit lineappearance messages to the respective terminals.

An illustrative method according to the present invention includes thesteps of: receiving plural incoming calls addressed to a particularnumber; accessing a configuration database to determine the end-point orend-points associated with the dialed number; transmitting plural lineappearance signals to each of the associated end-points; and displayingthe plural line appearances at each terminal end-point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention discussed in theabove summary of the invention will be more clearly understood whentaken together with the following detailed description of theembodiments which will be understood as being illustrative only, and theaccompanying drawings reflecting aspects of those embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an H.323-based communications systemcomprising one illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting the operational flow of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the system ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram for the signaling sequence of the system ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting the operational flow of the system ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a configuration database utilized bythe present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the layout of agraphical user interface according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown an H.323-based network system 10 comprising an illustrativeembodiment of the computer network-based communication system of thepresent invention. Generally, the network system includes a gateway 12,a gatekeeper 14, a signal routing device, for example a call controlservice entity 16 (CCSE), a configuration database 18, and pluralterminal end-points 20. In this embodiment, the network system isoperative to receive plural incoming calls from, for example, a publicswitched telephone network 22 (PSTN) that seek to establishcommunication with the same terminal end-point, determine the InternetProtocol (IP) address for the corresponding terminal end-point, andtransmit plural line appearance messages to that terminal end-point.

The gateway 12 comprises an H.323-defined entity, and provides forsignaling conversion between the switched public network, for examplethe PSTN 22, and the H.323-based network to support communicationtherebetween. The gateway also allows for interworking with otherH-series terminals, GSTN or ISDN voice terminals, or GSTN or ISDN dataterminals. The gateway is operative to accept a call originating on, forexample, the PSTN, convert the signal to an H.323-compatible format, andpass it into the H.323 network. The gateway may also perform theopposite function, namely take a call originating in H.323, convert thesignal to a PSTN-compatible format, and pass it on to the PSTN. Thegateway is responsible for passing caller-ID data, number-dialed data,and other such information in both directions. Various telephonysignaling technologies may be used by the gateway to perform thesefunctions, as are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The gatekeeper 14 provides admissions control and address translationservices. In addition, the gatekeeper may also handle call controlservices and route call control signals to the H.323 terminal end-points20. The gatekeeper is in communication with the gateway and receives atranslated phone number dialed by a caller on the PSTN from the gateway.The gatekeeper accesses a translation table (not shown) to determine thecorresponding Internet Protocol address of the terminal end-point.

The gatekeeper 14 typically includes a server in the form of a computeror router that is dedicated to running the gatekeeper. The computer orrouter is programmed with software to provide H.323 specified gatekeeperfunctionality.

The CCSE 16 is a signal routing agent and is responsible for attemptingto connect a caller with a particular terminal end-point 20. The CCSEdetermines the appropriate terminal end-point for receiving the call androutes the signal to the terminal end-point, as is described in greaterdetail below. In place of the CCSE 16, a call routed gatekeeper could beused to provide the call control services for the network 10. Thegatekeeper would then process the call signaling itself and complete thecall signaling with the terminal end-point or end-points.

The CCSE 16 includes a call control manager 24 and a multi-point controlunit 26 (MCU). The MCU is operative to establish a multi-pointconference with three or more terminal end-points and includes amulti-point controller (MC) (not shown) that controls the functions tosupport such conferences. The MC determines the selected communicationmode for the conference and transmits signals to the terminal end-pointsindicating the operating mode in which those terminals may transmitdata.

The configuration database 18 is preferably in the form of anassociation or look-up table, as is illustratively depicted in FIG. 6.The association table comprises plural address lines 27, each of whichprovides a segment to link a dialed number, for example an E.164 address28, and the corresponding IP address 29 for the terminal end-point orend-points. Thus, the association table allows the network system 10 touse the E.164 address data received from the PSTN to determine thecorresponding terminal end-point or end-points to be notified, as isdescribed in greater detail below. As shown in FIG. 6 as an example, thetelephone number 555-1000 corresponds with a business' primary line andis routed to terminal end-points T1, T2, and T3, which would be thepersons responsible for answering the main business line. The telephonenumber 555-1010 is routed to end-points T3 and T4, which for examplecould be, respectively, a secretary (attendant) and the secretary's boss(attendee). Furthermore, the telephone number 555-1011 is routed only toend-point T3, and would constitute the secretary's direct line.

The terminal end-points 20 include both input and output equipment forsupporting video and audio. Preferably, the terminals include graphicaluser interfaces (GUIs) for presenting line appearances in variousformats, as is described in more detail below.

The special features of the network system 10 of the present inventionare implemented, in part, by software programs stored in memory. Thesoftware programs are accessible by the components of the system, thefunction of which is described in greater detail in connection withFIGS. 2, 4, and 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, one preferred method of the presentinvention is described. A call placed by a user on the PSTN istransmitted to the gateway 12. At step 30, the gateway performs thenecessary translation into the H.323 format. At step 32, the translatedsignal is transmitted to the gatekeeper 14, which receives the signaland performs the access control function in order to authorize the callfrom the caller. Possible reasons for rejection may include restrictedaccess to or from particular terminals or gateways and restricted accessduring certain time periods.

Assuming that the call is authorized, operation proceeds to step 34,where the gatekeeper 14 directs the gateway 12 to establish a signalingpath directly to the signal routing device, in this case the CCSE 16.The CCSE receives the logical address for the call, such as a specificE.164 address. The CCSE then accesses the configuration database 18,which is in the form of an association or look-up table (FIG. 6). TheCCSE uses the logical address to determine the address of thecorresponding terminal end-point and routes the incoming call to thatterminal end-point, at step 36. The terminal is programmed to displaythe incoming call as a line appearance on the GUI. Operation then flowsback to step 30, and the process is repeated.

If the CCSE 16 receives multiple incoming calls, the CCSE accesses theconfiguration database 18 for each such call, determines thecorresponding terminal end-point 20 for each call, and routes theincoming calls to the respective terminal end-points. If more than oneof the incoming calls seeks to connect with a particular terminalend-point, the CCSE routes the appropriate line appearance messages tothe terminal end-point, and the terminal displays each line appearancemessage, for example in a scrollable list 38 or the like, as depicted inFIG. 7 and described further below.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a second embodiment of a networksystem of the present invention. The network system 40 comprises agateway 42, a pair of gatekeepers 44 and 46, a CCSE 48, and pluralterminal end-points 50 and 52. This system can be used in both the “keysystem” and “attendant/attendee” configurations to provide moretraditional telephone features to a computer network.

A “key system” configuration is one in which a single incoming call isrouted to multiple end-points. For example, in relatively small officesor retail establishments, there are often plural telephone devices, andeach is set to ring when the office's main phone number is dialed. Thecall may be answered at one or more of the telephone devices.

An “attendant/attendee” system is somewhat similar to the “key system”,in that a single incoming call may be routed to multiple telephonedevices. However, in an “attendant/attendee” configuration, one of thetelephone devices is actually the target end-point of the caller. Themost common example of this configuration is a business person and hisor her secretary. A telephone call seeking to connect to the businessperson's line is often routed to both the business person's telephonedevice as well as the secretary's telephone device. However, if thesecretary's direct number is dialed, the call appears only at thesecretary's telephone device.

In FIG. 3, the gateway 42 is in communication with the PSTN 54 fortwo-way communication therebetween, as described above. Alternatively,instead of being in communication with the PSTN, the gateway could be incommunication with another packet based network or with some otherswitched circuit network.

The first gatekeeper 44 is in communication with the gateway 42 toreceive, for example, the translated address from the gateway. The firstgatekeeper 44 is operative to multicast a location request to pluralgatekeepers (only the affirmatively responding gatekeeper 46 is shown inFIG. 3) to locate the gatekeeper that services a particular dialednumber, as is described in greater detail below.

The CCSE 48 is in communication with the gateway 42 and with theaffirmatively responding gatekeeper 46. The CCSE serves as the signalrouting agent for the call signals and communicates directly with thegateway 42. As with the previous embodiment, a call routing gatekeepercan be used in the place of the CCSE.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a timing diagram for the signalinginvolved in the “key system” mode of the present invention, and FIG. 5shows the corresponding flow chart, whereby a single incoming callappears virtually simultaneously on two or more terminal end-points. Anincoming call from telephone device A is transmitted as a Setup (1)signal through the PSTN switching network SW and to the gateway (GW) 42as a Setup (2) signal. The gateway then transmits an admission request(ARQ) signal ARQ (3) to the first gatekeeper 44 (GK₁), corresponding tostep 70 in FIG. 5. The first gatekeeper GK₁ is then operative tomulticast a location request (LRQ) signal LRQ (4) to locate thegatekeeper GK₂ that services the number dialed at the telephone deviceA. The second gatekeeper 46 (GK₂), which services the number dialed,then transmits a location confirmation (LCF) signal LCF (5) to the firstgatekeeper GK₁, which transmits an admission confirmation (ACF) signalACF (6) to the gateway GW with the address of the corresponding CCSE 48that services the number dialed. The ACF (6) signal also serves todirect the gateway GW to establish a direct signaling path to the CCSE,corresponding to step 72 in FIG. 5.

The gateway 42 (GW) then transmits a Setup (7) signal to the CCSE 48,which responds with a call proceeding signal CallPr (8) transmitted backto the gateway. The CCSE then accesses the configuration database 56 todetermine the corresponding terminal end-point or end-points that are toreceive line appearances for the particular incoming call, correspondingto step 74 in FIG. 5. As described above, the configuration databaseincludes an association table, a look-up table, or the like, including acolumn of switched circuit network addresses and corresponding packetbased network addresses. In this example, the CCSE accesses theconfiguration database and determines that two terminal end-points areto receive the incoming call, namely end-points T1 and T2. The CCSE thentransmits a pair of ARQ signals ARQ (9) and ARQ (10) to the secondgatekeeper 46, one for each terminal end-point. The second gatekeeper 46then transmits a pair of ACF signals ACF (11) and ACF (12) back to theCCSE 48 authorizing the CCSE to communicate directly with the twoterminals 50 and 52, which are the end-points T1 and T2. The CCSE thentransmits, at approximately the same time, respective setup signalsSetup (13) and Setup (14) to T1 and T2, which appear in the form of lineappearances at the graphical user interfaces of each end-point,corresponding to step 76 in FIG. 5. In this manner, a key system isachieved whereby a single incoming call is presented at multipleend-points, as established by the CCSE and configuration database.

As described above, the CCSE 48 can be replaced with a call routedgatekeeper that is programmed to access the configuration database 56and determine to which terminal end-point or end-points a particularincoming call is to be routed.

As shown in FIG. 4, assuming the user at each end-point T1 and T2desires to accept the call, each end-point transmits an ARQ signal, ARQ(17) and ARQ (19), to the second gatekeeper 46 (GK₂). The gatekeeper GK₂responds with respective ACF signals ACF (18) and ACF (20), whichinclude the call signaling channel transport address of the CCSE 48. Theend-points T1 and T2 then transmit respective alert signals Alert (21)and Alert (25) directly to the CCSE indicating that each end-point isaccepting the call. Respective alert signals Alert (22), Alert (23), andAlert (24) are transmitted through the gateway 42 (GW) and PSTNswitching network SW to the caller's telephone device A. The end-pointsT1 and T2 then transmit connect signals Connect (26) and Connect (30) tothe CCSE, which then transmits a connect signal Connect (27) to thegateway GW, which routes Connect (28) signal to the PSTN switchingnetwork SW, which in turn transmits a Connect (29) signal to thecaller's telephone device A, thereby establishing a communicationchannel between the caller's telephone device and the two end-points T1and T2, via the signal routing agent CCSE 48.

It will be apparent that the number of terminal end-points may be moreor less than two for a particular incoming call. It will also beapparent that depending on the telephone number dialed, different setsof end-points will receive a corresponding line appearance. For example,an incoming call to a main company number may be routed to everyterminal end-point in the company (such as the number 555-1000 in FIG.6), whereas an incoming call to the company's customer service number isonly routed to the terminal end-points manned by the company's customerservice representatives. Such information is conveniently andefficiently maintained in the configuration database 56 (FIG. 6).

In the case of an “attendant/attendee” system, the procedure employed bythe system 40 is similar to the “key system” configuration and may evenbe identical. A call to a particular telephone number is routed throughthe gateway 42 (GW) and first gatekeeper 44 (GK₁), which locates thesecond gatekeeper 46 (GK₂) that services the particular number. Thefirst gatekeeper GK₁ then directs the gateway GW to communicate directlywith the CCSE 48. The CCSE accesses the configuration database 56 todetermine the terminal end-point or end-points which are to receive lineappearances corresponding to that incoming call. Where the dialed phonenumber is an “attendee's” phone line, then the procedure is essentiallyidentical to a two-terminal key system configuration, as describedabove, and the incoming call is virtually simultaneously routed to theattendee and the associated attendant, as determined by accessing theconfiguration database. However, if the dialed phone number is to anattendant's direct line, then the incoming call is only routed to theattendant's terminal end-point.

It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art that many centraloffices provide, along with the incoming call setup signal, CallerIdentification (“Caller ID”) information. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, thescrollable list 38 of line appearances on the terminal end-point 20 candisplay the caller's phone number (such as entries 2 and 4), thecaller's name in instances where the party being called has previouslyentered the association between the phone number and caller's name (suchas entry 1), and the like. In addition, where a caller has Caller IDblocking, the line appearance simply says “Blocked Call” or the like.Thus, rather than simply displaying plural line appearances without anyidentification of the caller, the display, e.g. a graphical userinterface at a terminal, can display names, numbers, and the like,typically in the order the calls were received, to allow the party beingcalled to make an informed selection of the incoming call that he or shewishes to accept.

The system 10 of the present invention in one illustrative embodimentmay be incorporated in a hierarchical communications network, as isdisclosed in co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/105,326 of Gardell et al. entitled “A HIGH SPEED COMMUNICATIONSSYSTEM OPERATING OVER A COMPUTER NETWORK”, and filed on Oct. 23, 1998,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Thus, thevarious multi-line appearance capabilities disclosed herein may beimplemented in a nationwide or even worldwide hierarchical computernetwork.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the network system 10 ofthe present invention modifies existing computer network-basedcommunications systems, such as H.323-based systems, to provide moretraditional multi-line appearance capabilities. In particular, theability to provide key system and attendant/attendee modes is achievedby the present invention.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A system comprising: a signal routing agent; a gateway adapted toreceive a first incoming call addressed to a first dialed number and asecond incoming call addressed to a second dialed number; at least onegatekeeper in communication with the gateway and responsive to receiptof the first incoming call to control the gateway to transmit a firstcomputer network-compatible signal corresponding to the first incomingcall to the signal routing agent and responsive to receipt of the secondincoming call to control the gateway to transmit a second computernetwork-compatible signal corresponding to the second incoming call tothe signal routing agent; a data store storing data associating thefirst incoming call to a set of terminals selected from a plurality ofterminals and associating the second incoming call to at least one ofthe terminals of the selected set; and the signal routing agent beingresponsive to receipt of the first computer network-compatible signal toaccess the data store to identify the selected set of terminals assignedto receive the first computer network-compatible signal and to transmitfirst line appearance messages that identify an origin of the firstincoming call to the selected set of terminals, and being responsive toreceipt of the second computer network-compatible signal to access thedata store to identify the at least one of the terminals of the selectedset assigned to receive the second computer network-compatible signaland to transmit a second line appearance message identifying an originof the second incoming call to the at least one of the terminals of theselected set.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data store comprisesa configuration database.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:a second gatekeeper, said at least one gatekeeper being in communicationwith the gateway and the second gatekeeper being in communication withsaid at least one gatekeeper, the signal routing agent and the pluralityof terminals.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal routing agentcomprises a call control service entity.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the signal routing agent comprises a call routed gatekeeper. 6.The system of claim 4, wherein the call control service entity comprisesa multi-point control unit and a call manager.
 7. The system of claim 4,wherein the gateway is configured to translate the first and secondincoming calls into the first and second computer network-compatiblesignals.
 8. A method comprising: receiving a first incoming calladdressed to a dialed number and a second incoming call addressed to asecond dialed number; translating the first and second incoming callsinto packet switched network compatible signals; accessing a data storeto identify a plurality of terminals corresponding to the first dialednumber and to identify one of the plurality of terminals correspondingto the second dialed number; transmitting first line appearance signalsthat identify an origin of the first incoming call to each of theplurality of terminals over a packet switched network, wherein the firstline appearance signals are transmitted approximately simultaneously;and transmitting a second line appearance signal identifying an originof the second incoming call to the one of the plurality of terminalsover the packet switched network.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thepacket switched network compatible signal is an H.323-compliant signal.10. A method comprising: receiving a first incoming call request, thefirst incoming call request including a first destination address andfirst origination information corresponding to an origin of the firstincoming call request; receiving a second incoming call request, thesecond incoming call request including a second destination address andsecond origination information corresponding to an origin of the secondincoming call request; accessing a data store to identify a plurality ofterminals connected to a packet switched network and corresponding tothe first destination address and to identify a selected terminal of theplurality of terminals corresponding to the second destination address;transmitting to each of the plurality of terminals at least one callsetup message over the packet switched network that includes a firstorigination identifier based on the origin information of the firstincoming call request wherein the call setup messages are transmitted toeach of the plurality of terminals approximately simultaneously; andtransmitting to the selected terminal at least one call setup messageover the packet switched network that includes a second originationidentifier based on the origin information of the second incoming callrequest.
 11. A system comprising: a signal routing agent; a gatewayadapted to receive a request for a first incoming call addressed to afirst dialed number and a second incoming call addressed to a seconddialed number; a first server in communication with the gateway andresponsive to receipt of the request for the first incoming call tocontrol the gateway to transmit a first packet switchednetwork-compatible signal corresponding to the request for the firstincoming call to the signal routing agent and being responsive toreceipt of the request for the second incoming call to control thegateway to transmit a second packet switched network-compatible signalcorresponding to the request for the second incoming call to the signalrouting agent; a data store storing data associating the first incomingcall to a set of terminals selected from a plurality of terminalsconnected to a packet switched network and associating the secondincoming call to at least one of the terminals of the selected set; andthe signal routing agent being responsive to receipt of the first packetswitched network-compatible signal to access the data store to identifythe selected set of the plurality of terminals assigned to receive thefirst packet switched network-compatible signals and to transmit callsetup messages that identify an origin of the first incoming call toeach of the plurality of terminals, the signal routing agent also beingresponsive to receipt of the second packet switched network-compatiblesignals to access the data store to identify the at least one of theterminal of the selected set assigned to receive the second packetswitched network-compatible signal and to transmit call setup messagesthat identify an origin of the second incoming call to the at least oneof the terminals of the selected set.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the data store comprises a configuration database.
 13. Thesystem of claim 11, further comprising: a second server, wherein saidfirst server is in communication with the gateway and the second serveris in communication with said first server, the signal routing agent andthe plurality of terminals.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein thesignal routing agent comprises a call control service entity.
 15. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the signal routing agent comprises a callrouted gatekeeper.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the signalrouting agent comprises a call control service entity, the call controlservice entity comprising a multi-point control unit and a call manager.